A 61-year-old Canyon Lake man who told police he’d consumed four, 24-ounce cans of Twisted Tea before crashing his vehicle head-on into another vehicle in Bulverde in April 2024 pleaded guilty Feb. 18 to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and driving while intoxicated (DWI) with two or more previous convictions.
Marshall Neal was sentenced to 13 years in prison on the assault charge and 10 years for his DWI by 207th District Court Judge Tracie Wright-Reneau.
A statement issued March 10 by the Comal County Criminal District Attorney’s Office said the court made an affirmative finding that a deadly weapon was used or exhibited in the commission of the offense. Neal must serve at least half of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.
On April 19, 2024, officers with the Bulverde Police Department were dispatched to a major crash in the 4400 block of Highway 281.
Upon arrival they determined Neal’s vehicle crossed over the southbound lanes of the highway and through the median before striking another vehicle.
Neal crawled out of the driver’s side of his overturned vehicle.
Officers said his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and he was unsteady on his feet. “Multiple” cans of the alcoholic beverage were inside his vehicle.
Testing later revealed his blood-alcohol concentration was 0.155, nearly twice the legal limit in Texas.
Neal was unable to remember what led to the crash, but his victim told officers she attempted to swerve to avoid his vehicle but collided head-on anyway.
The woman was traveling with her minor child and was transported to the hospital due to severe neck pain.